Feeder for progressive lubricating systems



April 9*, 1935. D. R. HILLIS 7,

FEEDER FOR PROGRESSIVE LUBRICATING SYSTEMS Filed May 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO RN EYR INVENTOR April 9, 1935. D. R. HILLIS 1,997,406

FEEDER FOR PROGRESSIVE LUBRICATING SYSTEMS Filed May 12, 1930 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V H Q:

INVENTOR I ATTO RN EYS Patented Apr. 9.1 935 I Q I I i U ED I sTArEs PATENT o-FFlcE FEEDER FOB PROGRESSIVE 'LUBRICATING SYSTEMS I David R. Hillis,'Detroit, Mich., assignor to Lubrieating Equipment 00., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application May 12, 1930, Serial No. 451,707 11 Claims. (01.184-4) The present invention relates'to a feeder for form three cylindrical passageways through it; a lubricating system of the single pipe line type. one of these passageways is larger than the other The main object of the invention is to provide two, and the largest one serves as the side walls a feeder for a lubricating system in which a of a measuring chamber whichIhave designated 5 circuit from a reservoir equipment pumping 4, and the other two serve as valve chambers, 5 means is connected to a number of bearings and one of which I have designated as 5 and the back to said reservoir by a pipe line, said pumpother as 6. ing means being adapted to pump lubricant alter- The side walls of the measuring chamber are J nately or at will, first in one direction and then closed by plugs 1 which, in the preferred form,

in the other so that the lubricant will be forced are provided with suitable sealing means and 10 into the feeder from one direction of flow from enlarged heads 8, and said heads contact with said pipe line and cause said feeder to discharge the nuts 2 and are held inplace thereby. In the lubricant into the bearing to which-it is conother forms illustrated the plugs 1 are screw nected before permitting the lubricant to pass out threaded as are the ends of the chamber thus to the next feeder. permitting them to be screwed thereinto and their 15 Another object is the provision in such a feeder heads do not need to abut against the cap. of a means for delivering a measured quantity of Slidably mounted in the measuring chamber lubricant to each bearing. is a piston 9 having axial extending portions per- Another object is the provision in such a feeder mitting fluid pressure to act on the piston when of a means for varying the capacity of the meassaid extension abuts against either plug 1. As 20 uring chamber. shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the capacity of the meas- The invention is fully disclosed by way of xuring chamb'er may be varied by varying the size ample in the following description and in the of the pistons and their extensions.

accompanying drawings in which g Mounted in the valve chamber 5 is a slide valve Figure 1 is a sectional view of a feeder taken on of the dumbbell type having a head l0 provided .the line I-i of Fig. 4; with an extending portion of lesser diameter Fig. 2 is an end view of a feeder with caps which is adapted to project into the chamber removed; created by the recess 1' and to abut against the Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a feeder taken on cap when the valve slides toward the cap on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; v that side, and said dumbbell valve has a similar 30 Fig. 4 is a sectional'view of a feeder taken on head H provided with a similar extension. on its the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; other end, the connecting portion between said Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modified form of heads l0 and II, being of less diameter tha,

feeder with caps removed; said heads, is designated as l2.

Fig. 6 is a corresp ndin v w to Fig. 5 sh win In the preferred form illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 35 another modification of a. feeder; 3 and 4, the valve chamber 6 is provided with a Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a feeder taken on similar dumbbell valve having one head l3 and,

the line 'I of Fig. 6, and another one l4 and the connecting portion is Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views of the cylindesignated a l5,

40' drical measuring chamber of the feeder showing The valve chamber 5 communicates with the 40 how the pistons may be varied in size to lessen measuring chamber 4 at one end thereof through the amount of lubricant to be discharged from a duct l6, and at the other end through a, duct the feeder. l1, and as shown in Fig. 4, the valve chamber 5 Reference to these vlewsin which like charalso has a discharge port it, which leads to the acters are emp oyed to designate ike parts bearing through any suitable connection. I have 45 throughout will now be made. shown the body portion provided with a screw- The feeder co p es a body portion I which threaded connection l9 communicating with the may be of any shape. It is preferably hex d to discharge port I 8 and it is adapted to receive make it easily held when attaching the pierced a. fitting or'other connection to a bearing.

caps or nuts 2 and 2', which are screwed thereon The valve chamber 6 has a duct 20 communi- .50 and which have internally threaded projections cating with the measuring chamber 4 centrally adapted for connection to a pipe line. thereof and each end of said valve chamber 6 The body portion I is recessed as at l for is provided with abypass. In the preferred form purposes hereinafter described and it is bored as illustrated on Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4, the bypass conshown more clearly in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 so as to sists of ducts and valve chambers communicat- .65

-in Fig. 1.

ing with the chamber created between the caps and e recessed portions of the main body porti n. I have designated one of these-ducts 2|, and the other as 22 as will be seen in Fig. 1, where the valve chamber 6 and its dumbbell valves I 3, l4 and I3 are shown in dotted lines. The duct 2| leads to valve chamber 231, which is closed by a pressure operated headed check valve 24 having an axial projection or stop lug, and the duct 22 leads to a valve chamber 25 closed by a similar check valve 26.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the main features are the same although they differ in size and dimension and the valve means and bypass means differ somewhat.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a form of the invention in which, in lieu of the cylindrical valve chamber 6, I provide a valve chamber 36 at one end and a valve chamber 31 at the other end of the main body portion in which I mount spring pressed slide valves 38 and 38 respectively, and said valve chambers have an intercommunicatlng port 40 communicating with the duct 20.

The valve chamber 36 has a bypass duct 4| permitting lubricant to flow from the passage 40 to the chamber created between the cap and the main body portion by the recess I, when the valve 38 is forced off its seat, and the valve chamber 31 has a similar duct 42.

In Fig. .6 I have shown a form of the invention that differs from the preferred form in that the bypasses 4| and 42 are similar to those of Fig. 5 except that they are of slightly less length so as to accommodate the type of valve used, but the valve chamber 6 and the valve therein is the same as that of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The operation of the feeder is as follows, considering first the preferred form:-

Lubricant is forced through the pierced cap 2 of Fig. l and passes into the chamber made by the recessed portion of the main body portion and the cap 2, and while the lubricant pressure forces the valve 24 to its seat thus blocking admittance to the valve chamber 23, it-also forces both dumbbell valves toward the cap 2' each then being in the position shown in dotted lines Such movement of the valves causes the valve head ID to pass beyond the duct l6 and the valve head H to pass beyond the duct l'l, permitting the lubricant entering valve chamher 5 under pressure to flow into the measuring chamber, which forces the piston 9 to close the duct 20 and to discharge lubricant on the other side of said piston inthe measuring chamber through duct between valve heads II and Ill and out through the outlet port l8 into the bearing member screwed into the connecting portion l9.

When the piston 9 has completed its discharge stroke it opens the duct 20 to the valve chamber 6 and the lubricant under pressure entering through cap 2 continues its flow around the connecting portion l5 of the dumbbell valve and between the heads l3 and M, from whence it passes through duct 22 into valve chamber 25 and forces valve 26 off its seat, and it then is free to pass and does pass through the pierced cap 2' into the pipe line or other fluid conveying means connected therewith.

When pressure entering cap 2 is relieved, the piston 9 will abut against the plug 1 nearest cap -2' and lubricant will be left in the chamber on her 5 and through duct l1 into the measuring chamber 4, force piston 3 toward cap 2 causing it to discharge lubricant through duct l3 and into chamber 5 between valve heads l and H and through outlet port l8 to bearing, and will then permit the lubricant under pressureto flow through duct 20 and into valve chamber 6 between valve heads l3 and N and through duct 2| into valve chamber 23 to open a valve and flow by it and through the pierced cap 2.

, The operation is the same in the forms shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, except that the ducts 4| and 42 are substituted for the valve chambers 23 and 25, and the ducts are closed by'the valves 38 and 39 in Fig. and by the valve heads l3 and II in Fig. 6 rather than by the separate valves 24 and 26. v

In the form shown in Fig. 5 springs normally keep valves 38 and 39 on their seats so as to prohibit lubricant passing directly into the central valve passage 40 from either cap, and as the pressure entering cap 2 will aid'the spring in holding valve 38 on its seat, valve 33 will be 1. In combination, a. feeder of the character" described comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a plurality of inlet ports adapted for connection to a fluid conveying means, a valve controlled passageway communicating with said cylinder near each end thereof, a discharge port communicating with said valve controlled passageway and adapted for connection to a bearing, and valve controlled bypass means communicating with said cylinder and with each connection to the fluid conveying means adapted to direct lubricant entering said device through one inlet port to the fluid conveying means connected to the other-inlet port.

2. A lubricating device comprising a body provided with a delivery port adapted for connection to a. bearing and a plurality of ports adapted for connection to a conduit capable of delivering lubricant thereto under pressure, pressure operated means for delivering to a bearing a predetermined quantity of lubricant received through any one of the ports connected to said conduit, and means for directing lubricant under pressure to flow through said device to the conduit con-' nected to another of the ports after forcing lubricant into the bearing to which the device is connected.

3. A lubricating device comprising a body provided with a delivery port adapted for connection to a bearing and a plurality of ports adapted for connection to a conduit for delivering lubricant thereto and therefrom under pressure, pressure operated means for delivering to a bearing a predetermined quantity of lubricant entering said device through any of the said plurality of ports, and means for directing lubricant under pressure to flow through said device to another of said plurality of ports after forcing lubricant into the bearing to which the device is connected, said device being adapted to function when the lubricant is forced therethrough from either direction of flow in the conduit to which it is to be attached.

-" to said device and for conveying lubricant there-- 4. A lubricating device comprising a body provided with a delivery port, 'a plurality oi ports adap for connection to a lubricating conveying m ans for delivering lubricant under, pressure irom, a cylinder, a piston in said cylindencommunicating passageways connecting said 'cylin-- der with said plurality of ports and communicating with said delivery port, and valve means controlling the lubricant supplied to said device under pressure, a second communicating passageway connecting said plurality of ports and communicating with said cylinder in such man'- ner that after the cylinder has discharged its predetermined quantity of lubricant, the continued pressure on the lubricant will force lubricant out of said cylinder and into said second passageway, valve means adapted to bloclr said second passageway to the flow of lubricant entering through any one 0! the plurality of ports and to direct lubricant flowing into said second passageway from said cylinder .to pass out. of one of said plurality of ports which is not their acting as an inlet port.

5. A lubricating device comprising a body provided with a delivery port, a plurality of ports adapted for connection to a lubricant conveying means for delivering. lubricant thereto under pressure and for conveying lubricant therefrom, a cylinder and a piston in said cylinder, 'a communicating -passageway connecting said plurality of ports and communicating with said delivery port, a duct at each end of said cylinder communicating with said communicating passageway, valve means in said communicating passageway controlling the lubricant supplied to said device under pressure, a second communicating passageway connecting said plurality of ports,

,a duct connecting said second communicating passageway with said cylinder, andqvalve controlled means adapted to block said second communicating passageway to the flow of lubricant entering through any of said ports and to direct lubricant entering said second passageway from said cylinder to pass from the device'intothe lubricant conveying means.

6. A feeder for lubricating bearings comprising a body having a cylinder, 9. piston reciprocable' in said cylinder, said bodyhaving'two openings each serving alternately as loading and discharge openings to a lubricant conveying means capable of conducting lubricant under pressure in any direction, a valve chamber connecting said openings, ducts at each end of said cylinder communicating with said valve chamber, and a' discharge port communicating withsaid valve chamber and adapted for connection to a bearing, valve means adapted to direct lubricant under pressure entering either one of said openings to flow through said valve chamber andathrough one of said ducts into said cylinder on one side'oi said piston and to direct lubricant being discharged from the other side of said piston to flow through said other duct and into said valve chamber and out through the discharge port, a second valve chamber connecting said openings, and communicating with said cylinder, a duct near each end of said second valve chamber communicating with each opening, and valvemeans adapted to close said valve chamber and ducts to the direct and continuous flow of lubricant therethrough, and adapted to direct lubricant entering said valve cham-' ber from said cylinder to flow through the duct and opening opposite the one through which lubricant is entering the device.

'1. A lubricating device comprising a main any portion having a delivery port,'a plurality of inlet ports adapted for connection to a source of lubricant supply capable of delivering lubricant under pressure, a measuring chamber adapted to deliver a predetermined quantity of lubricant to a bearing, means 'ior varying the capacity of ways between said inlet ports, said measuring chamber and said delivery port, valve means controlling the lubricant supplied to said device under pressure for directing said lubricant into said measuring chamber, anothercommunicating passageway between said inlet ports, a duct com-i municating with said measuring chamber and said last named passageway, and valve means blocking the continuous and direct flow oi lubrisaid measuring chamber, communicating passagecant through said last mentioned passageway" from either inlet port and directing lubricant entering said last mentioned passageway from said measuring chamber to pass throughv said passageway to the other inlet connection'to the source of supply on the other side of said passageway from that through which the lubricant is entering under pressure.

8. A lubricating device adapted for application to a system wherein lubricant may flow in either direction through a lubricant conveying'means forming a circuit from a source of supply to a plurality of bearings and back to said source 01' supply, comprising in combination a body member having aplurality oi inlets and outlets adapted for connection to the lubricant conveying means and a discharge port adapted for connecdrical connecting passage for controlling by pressure on the lubricant the alternate flow of lubricant into said cylinder and the filling of said cylinder on each side of said piston, and for controlling the alternate discharge of lubricant into the bearing from each sideof said piston, a second cylindrical connecting passageway between the body member inlets and outlets to the lubricant inder has discharged lubricant to the bearing,

to flow through the by-pass leading to the outw let to the lubricant conveying means.

9. A lubrication controlling device adapted for attachment to a single-supply line piping system forming a circuit for connecting a supply of lubricant under pressure with a plurality oi bearings in such manner that lubricant may flow through said device when the pressure is applied to cause flow of lubricant in the line in either direction, comprising a body member having a single discharge outlet to the bearing and two ports. one of which serves as an inlet to the device-and the other as an outlet to the line and vice versa depending upon the direction of flow oilubricant in the line, a cylindrical passage connecting said body member inlets and communicating with said within said cylinder, ducts in the-body member communicating with said cylinder-,and with said cylindrical passage, said ducts servmg alternately as inlet and outlet ducts in l g said cylinder andin discharging lubricant therefrom, a pressure-actuated piston valve of dumb-bell pattern in said cylindrical passage and interposed between said body member-inlets, said piston valve and cylinder-piston being cooperatively actuated by pressure of the lubricant flowing ineither direction in said supply line, a second cylindrical passage connecting said body member inlets and communicating with the cylinder, and valve means controlled by the pressure of lubricant entering said body member inlets adapted to close said second cylindrical passage to the flow of lubricant therethrough and to direct lubricant flowing from the'cylin'der to pass out of the port of the body member opposite to that in which lubricant is then entering the device, 10. A feeder for lubricating bearings, comprising a cylindrical body portion, pierced caps for closing the ends of said body portion adapted for fluid connection with lubricant conveying means and constituting inlet and outlet ports for said main body portion for obtaining lubricant from and discharging lubricant to said lubricant conveying means, a cylinder having removable ends, a fluid pressure operated piston in said cylinder having axial extensions on each side thereof, a passageway leading from one inlet to the other, a

duct near each end of said passageway co:mmunieating with each end portionof the cylinder, a discharge port in said passageway adapted for fluid connection to a bearing, a dumbbell valve in said passageway controlled by the pressure of thelubri'cant entering said feeder and controlling the lubricant supplied to said cylinder and the discharge of lubricant through said discharge port, a second passageway leading from one inlet to the other, a duct communicating with the central portion of the cylinder and with said second passageway, a dumbbell valve in said last mentioned passageway controlledby pressure of the lubricant entering either one of said inlets and controlling the flow of lubricant received from the cylinder, valve chambers adjacent each end of said second passageway, each valve chamber communicating with the inlet port at its end and with said second passageway, a fluid pressure cperated valve in each of said valve chambers adapted to be closed to its respective'inlet port by the pressure of lubricant entering said port and adapted to be opened to the outlet port to the lubricant conveying means. I V

11. A feeder for lubricating bearings comprising a body having a cylinder and a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, said body having two openings, one serving as a loading opening while the other serves as a discharge opening and vice 'versa to a lubricant conveying means capable of conducting lubricant under pressure in either direction, a discharge port communicating with said body and adapted for connection to a bearing, valve means for directing lubricant entering said device under pressure through-one of said openings into said body to actuate said piston and to direct lubricant being forced out of said body from the other side of said piston to the discharge port and a valve controlled passageway connecting said openings and communicating with said cylinder, and bypass means for directing lubricant flowing from said cylinder through said body to m mos 4 the other opening after each stroke of the piston.

l 12. A tell-tale lubricating device whichdirects lubricant received from a lubricant conveying means connected to a sourceof supply. adapted to develop pressure and which firstdiecharges an increment of lubricant to the bearing to which it is connected and then directs the lubricant therethrough and to the lubricant conveying means leading to another device, comprising a main vbody portion having two openings serving alternately as inlets and outlets to the fluid conveying means, three cylindrical passageways, one of said cylindrical passageways being provided with a discharge port adapted for connection to a bear ing, another of said cylindrical passageways having removable plugs in its end portions and com-- prising a measuring chamber, the other of said her and controlling the discharge of lubricant to the bearing, a duct communicating between said measuring chamber and the cylindrical passageway having the by-pass ducts, valve means in said last mentioned cylindrical passageway adapted to close said passageway and one of the by-pass ducts to the flow of lubricant from the opening serving as an inlet and adapted to open the other by-pass duct to the flow of lubricant entering said last named passageway from the cylinder.

13. A lubricating device comprising a body por tion having two ports serving alternately as inlet and outlet ports to a lubricant pressure supply line, and a discharge port adapted for connection to a bearing, a piston chamber communicating with each of said alternate inlet and outlet ports and with said discharge port, and having an additional outlet, a piston in said piston chamber,

said additional outlet being adapted to permit lubricant to flow out of said cylinder after each piston stroke, a passageway communicating with said additional cylinder outlet and with each of said alternate body inlet and outlet ports and valve means adapted to close said passageway at the end communicating with the port through which lubricant is entering and to direct lubricant entering said passageway to the other-body port, and valve means controlled by lubricant entering said two body. ports and controlling the lubricant supplied to said device under pressure and directing the increment of lubricant to be discharged from the device to the discharge port.

14. A lubricant device of the class described comprising a cylindrical body, a cylinder-in said body, a fluid pressure actuated piston in said cylinder, two ports in said body each adapted to alternately receive'lubricant from and to discharge lubricant to a fluid conveying line, a discharge port in said body member adapted to be connected to a bearing, a communicating passageway between said two ports also communicating with the discharge port and the cylinder, and valve means controlled by pressure of the lubricant entering either one of said body ports for directing lubricant into said cylinder on one side of said piston for directing lubricant out of said cylinder on the other side of said piston to the discharge port, a second communicating passageway between said body ports, a communicating duct connecting said passageway with the cylinder and adapted to be opened to fiow of lubricantreceived from the fiuid'c'nveylng line after the piston has forced a meas r'ed quantityof lubricant out of the dischargeport, a valve controlled bypass chamber near each end of said second communicating passageway, each of said last named chambers communicating with said duct and with one of the two body ports, each of said valve controlled chambers being adapted to be closed to said second communicating passageway when lubricant under pressure enters the body port with which it communicates.

15. A feeder for lubricating bearings comprising a body having a cylinder and a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, said body having two openings each serving alternately as loading openings and discharge openings to a lubricant conveying means capable of conducting lubricant under pressure in either direction, adischarge port communicating with said body and adapted for connectionto a bearing, valve means for directing lubricant entering said device under pressure through one of said openings into saidbody to actuate said piston and to direct lubricant being forced out of said body from the other side of said piston to the discharge port, a valve controlled passageway connecting said openings and communicating with said cylinder and valve controlled bypass means for directing lubricant flowing from said cylinder to the other opening after each stroke of the piston.

16. A tell-tale lubricating device which directs lubricant received from a lubricant conveying means connected to a source of supply adapted to develop pressure and which first discharges an increment of lubricant to the bearing to which it is connected and then directs the lubricant therethrough: and to the lubricant conveying means, cbmprislng a main body portion having two openings serving alternately as inlets and outlets to the fluid conveying means, three cylindrical passageways, one of said cylindrical passageways being provided with a discharge port adapted for connection to a bearing, another of said cylindrical passageways having removable plugs in its end portions and comprising a measuring chamber,

and a fluid pressure operated piston reciprocable in said measuring chamber, the other of said cylindrical passageways having a by-pas's duct near each end thereoi communicating with the respective openings of the main body, ducts communicating between the end portions of said measuring chamber and said first named cylindrical passageway controlled by and adapted to control the lubricant supplied to said measuring chamber and controlling the discharge of lubricant to the bearing, a duct communicating between said measuring chamber and the cylindrical passageway having the by-pass ducts, valve means in said last mentioned cylindrical passageway adapted to close said passageway and one of the by-pass ducts to the flow of lubricant from the opening serving as an inlet and adapted to open the other bypass duct to the flow of lubricant entering said last named passageway from the cylinder.

17. In a feeder of the character described, two ports serving alternately as inlet and outlet ports, a measuring chamber, a reciprocable piston in said measuring chamber, a discharge port, a cylindrical passageway enlarged at each end to accommodate spring pressed valves for which seats are provided at the inner ends of said passage enlargements, such passageway communicating with said measuring chamber and with each of said first two mentioned ports, each of said valves normally resting upon its seat, each of said valve chambers having a duct communicating therewith and with one of said first mentioned ports, each such duct directing lubricant around the valve whenever the valve is oil? its seat, a second cylindrical passageway communicating with each of said first twomentioned ports and with each end of said measuring chamber and also communicating with said discharge port, valve means for directing lubricant entering said last mentioned cylindrical passageway from one of said first two mentioned ports to pass into said measuring chamber on one side of the piston and for directing lubricant discharged from the measuring chamber on the other side of the piston to pass through said discharge port.

DAVID R. HILLIS. 

